Comptroller Kevin Lembo announced today that he has called on all of
Connecticut's quasi-public agencies to voluntarily provide his office with
checkbook-level financial data annually to incorporate in OpenConnecticut, the
state's comprehensive financial transparency website.

In a letter sent this week to the heads of all quasi-public agencies, Lembo
said this step is necessary for Connecticut to maintain its leadership -- or
even keep up with neighboring states -- on open government, transparency and
accountability.

"Quasi-public agencies are set apart from other state government agencies by
design, relieving them of some - though not all - requirements that apply to
other agencies in order to allow them to respond to challenges and opportunities
more expediently and efficiently than traditional government entities," Lembo
said. "All quasi-public agencies were formed to meet a public purpose with
significant ramifications on the general public, and many rely in some way on
state funds or resources to accomplish their stated purpose. The operations of
quasi-public institutions should therefore be as transparent as possible.

"It is now considered best practice to provide checkbook level transparency
data for quasi-public institutions on state transparency websites – and doing so
will allow Connecticut to retain its position as a leader in government
transparency efforts and will help to maintain the public's confidence in
government operations," Lembo said.

Lembo launched OpenConnecticut three years ago as a central hub for all of
the state's financial data and reports that had historically been scattered
across agencies and websites. Since launching the site, Connecticut has improved
its grade in financial transparency from a B- to an A in U.S. PIRG's annual
"Follow the Money" financial transparency survey.

Connecticut was one of only eight states last year to receive an A grade from
U.S. PIRG. Since then, however, several states - including neighboring
Massachusetts - have moved to incorporate data from all government entities,
including quasi-publics, into their transparency websites.

Quasi-public agencies are independent government corporations created through
legislation to perform particular public functions.

Lembo has requested that each quasi-public agency voluntarily provide his
office with an annual data feed of checkbook-level financial data to be posted
on the state's OpenCheckbook application within the OpenConnecticut site.

"The data will improve public confidence in the operations of quasi-public
institutions and help to move Connecticut forward as one of the most transparent
state governments in the country," Lembo said.

Lembo noted that he is not requesting that any agency provide any un-disclosable,
protected or proprietary information.